The Bird Borrowers Haven't Left, and Breakfast Has Already Been Refilled Twice

Su Yuntao was awakened by the sound of a cow the next morning.

He opened his eyes and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling beams for a while before remembering that he was staying in the village. A long moo sounded outside the door, followed by another, seeming to draw closer.

Why was there a cow in the yard?

Su Yuntao threw on his clothes and got out of bed. The moment he pushed open the door, he saw Chatot standing beneath the eaves.

It stretched out its neck.

"Moo—"

Su Yuntao braced himself against the doorframe and said nothing for a long while.

There really was a yellow cow outside the courtyard gate, grazing with its head lowered. The man leading it looked up at the bird with great interest. Beside him stood someone carrying a bronze gong, someone holding a bamboo basket, and even the elderly man in charge of watching the children at the school had come.

"Deacon Su, you're awake?"

Several people turned toward him all at Qi, and the smiles on their faces woke Su Yuntao right up.

They had asked about Chatot several times over dinner last night.

Apparently, they still had not asked enough.

"Is there something you need?"

The man leading the cow spoke first. "Yesterday, when I heard it could imitate people, I wanted it to imitate my cow. I didn't expect it to really be able to do it!"

"I've already heard that."

"Could I borrow it for another half day? My youngest son missed it, and he fussed at me for half the night after I got home."

As soon as he finished speaking, the others started chiming in as well.

Some wanted Chatot to recite a few lines at the school, some wanted to invite it to the threshing